The Four Skills Employees Need in 2013

A recent article in The Wall Street Journalreports that there are four skills employees will need in order to get recognized and promoted in 2013: communications, personal branding, flexibility and increased productivity.

Communication

The article notes that clear communication is vital to employee success in 2013. As more and more communication occurs digitally, many employees are forgetting how to communicate in person or deliver an effective presentation. People forget to proofread and flub basics like spelling and grammar.

Personal Branding

Point here: Check your digital footprint, especially if you’re out looking to change jobs. More and more employers are checking social networks before hiring. Make sure you’re responsible in your communication on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn—careless communications reflects poorly on your personal brand (and potentially on your current employer).

Flexibility

Learning is more important than ever. As responsibilities rapidly change, the job you were hired to do is seldom the job you actually end up doing. In 2013, employers will be looking for people who learn quickly and demonstrate an ability to adapt, think outside the box and thrive in situations that require them to learn new skills.

Greater Productivity

According to a recent survey by CEB in Arlington, Va., employers are looking for a 20 percent improvement in employee performance in 2013. Everybody in the company is expected to look for ways to streamline operations as well as produce at a higher level.

What skills do you think federal employees need most in the coming year?